English Internships

Practical Experience in Professional Fields

English majors take advantage of a variety of internship opportunities through taking English 494: Internship. Required of our English majors, the course provides students with the practical experience with applying the knowledge and skills of their coursework in actual work environments.

As part of their internship, students engage in field opportunities in writing, research, drama, and literature at such sites as newspapers, public relations offices, schools, non-profit organizations, government agencies, theaters, and other professional contexts.

English 494: Internship is open to all English and English: Adolescence Education majors who have completed 90 credits toward their degree, as well as students who have completed at least 12 credits toward their Writing Minor.

How to Get Started

It's never too early to plan for your internship. In the semesters that lead up to your internship, there's plenty you can do. Here are some tips.

1. Go to the Career Center, located on the third floor of Saint Joseph Hall. Start to compose a professional resume and cover letters. In Center's Resource Room, there are shelves full of directories and how-to guides on resume writing and careers. Register for their eCareerCenter website to see what kinds of internship opportunities and resources are online. Come during their walk-in hours and talk with a counselor.

2. Plan out which semester you will take your internship. Look up your own Academic Progress Report. Talk with your English Department adviser. Make sure you are eligible to register for an internship as well.

3. Contact the Internship Coordinator, Daniel Nester, and obtain a permission form to register for the class.Do this around advisement time.

4. After you register, there will be meetings with the Internship Coordinator before the end of the previous semester to figure which kind of internship you will want to take. Bring a draft of your professional resume and questions about what kind of internships you may be interested in exploring. The English Department has a number of partnerships with prospective internship placements, which will be discussed. After your resume and cover letter are edited and approved, you can set up interviews and appointments. Do this before the semester ends to start you internship at the start of the semester.

5. Once you secure your internship, you will need to fill out a Learning Contract before you start working at your placement.

Internships: Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours a week do I need to work?English 494: Internship is a 4-credit class. Plan on working 8-12 hours a week, for a total of 120-140 hours total.

Do I get paid?Usually not. English 494: Internship is for credit. Sometimes an internship site may reimburse for transportation, but no paid positions will "count" as an internship.

What kind of internship opportunities are out there?There's a wide range. Recently, Saint Rose English majors have worked everywhere from nonprofit organizations such as The New York State Alliance for Arts Education and The Sanctuary for Independent Media, to small literary presses such as Flim Forum Press and Painted Bride Quarterly, to small publishers and public relations firms.

Will I have to find my own internship?Yes, but we will help you! Start off with looking at the many listings in the Career Center. After you register for English 494, you will be able to access the internship opportunities the English Department internship coordinator retains on file.

When do I need to find an internship?Students should start looking for an internship immediately after they have registered for the class. A student who registers for English 494 in April for the following Fall semester should find, interview for, and secure an internship well before the Fall semester starts. Failure to secure an internship at the beginning of the semester may affect that student's final grade for the class.

Are there any forms to fill out?Yes. Since this class is by permission only, you will register for English 494 in person at the Student Solution Center. Before you go there, you must fill out Permission Form and have it signed by the internship coordinator, Daniel Nester. Do this at any time.

The most important form comes after you have obtained an internship: the Learning Contract. The function of the Learning Contract is to establish an agreement among student, internship site supervisor, and internship coordinator regarding the purposes and logistics of a student's internship. This will help insure that you will learn what you want to learn at your internship. This form must be signed by the student, the supervisor and the internship coordinator no later than the second week of the semester before the internship can begin, and are then distributed to all parties.

What will I do at the end of the semester?Students hand in a Final Portfolio comprising three items--due at 5pm the final day of exams--composed of the following:

1. A 4-5 page essay that explores what the student accomplished at their internship placement, in particular what connections they made with their in-class learning with their work out in the field.

2. A portfolio that includes three items the student worked on or completed during his or her internship. This may be anything from an official email the student wrote and edited, a flyer she wrote designed, or an article or blog posts the student writes or edits during his or her internship.

3. An updated professional resume that includes their internship experience.